Windows 7 now available on MSDN and TechNet

The bits are up! The bits are up!

So are the activation keys.

If you subscribe to MSDN or TechNet, you can now download the official versions of Windows 7. There are separate downloads for the 32-bit (X86) and 64-bit (X64) versions but, as expected, the files for Ultimate, Pro, Home Premium, Home Basic, and Starter are identical.

Details for the 32-bit version: en_windows_7_ultimate_x86_dvd_x15-65921.iso SHA1: 5395DC4B38F7BDB1E005FF414DEEDFDB16DBF610 ISO/CRC: C1C20F76

Details for the 64-bit version: en_windows_7_ultimate_x64_dvd_x15-65922.iso SHA1: 326327CC2FF9F05379F5058C41BE6BC5E004BAA7 ISO/CRC: 1F1257CA

I didn’t expect it, but the file for Windows 7 Enterprise is different from the others.

Downloads are bound to be a tad slow for a while…

Windows 7 RTM next week?

Neowin reports that Windows 7 is scheduled to be released to manufacturing on June 26.

Will keep you posted.

Windows 7 to RTM mid- to late-July, official launch October 22

It looks like Ina Friend at Cnet broke the story:

Microsoft confirmed on Tuesday that it is planning for Windows 7 to hit retail shelves and start showing up on new PCs on October 22.

To reach that milestone, Microsoft plans to wrap up development of the operating system by the middle or end of next month.

The RC is certainly solid enough – and I hear that an unofficial RC 2 may become available in the next week or two.

I bet that we see Win7 available on new machines long before October 22.

Looks like I lost my bet, that Win7 would be on store shelves by September 1. Ah well.

Oh. TechARP reports that people who buy Vista after June 26 will be eligible for a free upgrade to Windows 7.

Official Windows 7 ship date waffle

Bill Veghte, who gave the keynote at TechEd, mentioned the new official line on Windows 7’s ship date. Microsoft’s Press Release says:

As part of today’s news, Microsoft Corp. announced that the company is anticipating that the next version of its client operating system, Windows 7, will be available to customers in time for the holiday shopping season.

which narrows things down to, oh, sometime this year, eh? The Engineering Windows 7 blog goes into more detail about the Release to Manufacturing process, while still playing coy with the dates:

Ultimately our partners will determine when their PCs are available in market. If the feedback and telemetry on Windows 7 match our expectations then we will enter the final phases of the RTM process in about 3 months. If we are successful in that, then we tracking to our shared goal of having PCs with Windows 7 available this Holiday season.

I’m sticking to the prediction I made almost a year ago: I bet you’ll be able to buy a shrinkwrapped copy of Windows 7 on store shelves on September 1.